The bearings:
- can support high radial loads and moderate axial loads by means of a single bearing position ➤ Figure
- are suitable for applications with a very small radial design envelope, where the raceway on the shaft is designed as a rolling bearing raceway (direct bearing arrangement)
- permit relatively high speeds, if the rolling element set in the axial bearing component is not full complement but guided by a cage
- have a high running accuracy
- permit locating bearing arrangements with only a very small radial design envelope
- result in axially rigid bearing arrangements
- are easy to mount as they are not self-retaining in many cases
- permit technically straightforward, economical and cost-effective designs
Combined needle roller bearing / needle roller bearing: comparison of load direction
Fr = radial load
Fa = axial load
Needle roller/axial deep groove ball bearing NKX
Needle roller bearing NK
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Design variants
The standard product range of combined needle roller bearings comprises:
The majority of these needle roller bearings are X-life bearings ➤ link.
Combined needle roller bearings
The bearings comprise a radial component and an axial component
Combined needle roller bearings comprise a radial needle roller bearing, which is combined with an axial bearing component ➤ Figure, ➤ Figure and ➤ Figure. These bearings can support radial as well as axial loads with just one bearing and permit locating bearing arrangements with only a small radial design envelope ➤ Figure and ➤ section. They are suitable, for example, where radial and axial loads are present and simple axial contact washers are no longer able to support the axial loads on account of their size, high speeds or inadequate lubrication, and other locating bearings require too much installation space.
Combined needle roller bearings, radial and axial dynamic load carrying capacity
Cr = radial basic dynamic load rating
Ca = basic axial dynamic load dating
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Needle roller/axial deep groove ball bearings
Suitable for compact direct bearing arrangements on the shaft
Needle roller/axial deep groove ball bearings do not have an inner ring and are therefore particularly compact in a radial direction ➤ Figure. However, they require a shaft raceway that is hardened and ground ➤ section. If the shaft cannot be used as a rolling bearing raceway, inner rings IR can be used instead ➤ Figure. The suitable inner rings are given in the product tables and must be ordered in addition to the bearing ➤ link. For lubrication, the outer ring of the radial bearing component has a lubrication groove and lubrication holes.
Type NX, NX..-Z
The rolling element set for the axial bearing component is a full complement ball system
Needle roller/axial deep groove ball bearings NX and NX..-Z have a full complement ball set and an extremely low radial section height ➤ Figure. Due to the compact radial dimensions, bearing arrangements can be achieved with very small shaft centre distances, such as those that may be present in multi-spindle drilling machines. A sheet steel end cap secured to the radial bearing component grips the shaft locating washing of the axial bearing and holds the axial bearing component together ➤ Figure. As a result, the bearings are self-retaining. The sheet metal caps for bearings NX have lubrication holes for oil lubrication ➤ Figure and ➤ section.
Needle roller/ axial deep groove ball bearing NX without inner ring
Fr = radial load
Fa = axial load
NX, full complement axial ball bearing component, with end cap, lubrication holes in the cap
NX..-Z, full complement axial ball bearing component, with end cap, no lubrication holes in the cap
End cap
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Needle roller/axial deep groove ball bearing NX..-Z with inner ring
Inner ring IR
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Type NKX, NKX..-Z
The rolling element set for the axial bearing component is guided by a cage
In bearings NKX and NKX..-Z, the rolling element set is not a full complement ball system, as is present in bearings NX, but is retained by a cage ➤ Figure. The ball and cage assembly corresponds to an axial deep groove ball bearing of series 511. As a result of the cage, these bearings are suitable for higher speeds than bearings of the full complement design ➤ link.
Type NKX
Bearings NKX are not self-retaining, i. e radial needle roller bearing, axial ball and cage assembly and shaft locating washer can be fitted independently of each other ➤ Figure.
Type NKX..-Z
Type NKX..-Z has a sheet steel end cap, which holds the axial bearing component together, i. e. the bearings are self-retaining. The cap is designed without lubrication holes and is rigidly connected to the housing locating washer of the radial bearing component ➤ Figure.
Needle roller/axial deep groove ball bearings without inner ring
Fr = radial load
Fa = axial load
NKX, axial bearing component with ball and cage assembly, without end cap
NKX..-Z, axial bearing component with ball and cage assembly, with end cap, no lubrication holes in the cap
End cap
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Needle roller/axial cylindrical roller bearings
Type NKXR , NKXR..-Z
The rolling element set for the axial bearing component is guided by a cage
These bearings comprise a radial needle roller bearing and an axial cylindrical roller bearing of series 811 with a plastic cage. They do not have an inner ring and require a shaft raceway that is hardened and ground ➤ Figure and ➤ section. If the shaft cannot be used as a rolling bearing raceway, inner rings IR can be used instead ➤ Figure. The suitable inner rings are given in the product tables and must be ordered in addition to the bearing ➤ link. For lubrication, the outer ring of the radial bearing component has a lubrication groove and lubrication holes.
Type NKXR
Type NKXR is not self-retaining, i. e. the radial needle roller bearing, axial cylindrical roller bearing and shaft locating washer can be fitted independently of each other ➤ Figure.
Type NKXR..-Z
A sheet steel end cap secured to the radial bearing component grips the shaft locating washing of the axial cylindrical roller bearing and holds the axial bearing component together. As a result, these bearings are self‑retaining ➤ Figure.
Needle roller/axial cylindrical roller bearings without inner ring
Fr = radial load
Fa = axial load
NKXR, axial bearing component with roller and cage assembly, without end cap
NKXR..-Z, axial bearing component with roller and cage assembly, with end cap, no lubrication holes in the cap
End cap
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Needle roller/axial cylindrical roller bearing NKXRwith inner ring
Inner ring IR
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Needle roller/angular contact ball bearings
Type NKIA, NKIB
The rolling element set for the axial bearing component is guided by a cage
Needle roller/angular contact ball bearings comprise a radial needle roller bearing, an angular contact ball bearing as the axial component and an inner ring ➤ Figure and ➤ Figure. In the case of type NKIA the inner ring is of a single-piece design, whereas design NKIB has one narrow and one wide inner ring. The ball cage of the axial bearing component is made from plastic ➤ Figure and ➤ Figure and ➤ section. The bearings have a low radial section height and are suitable for high speeds ➤ link. As needle roller/angular contact ball bearings are not self-retaining, the inner ring can be mounted independently of the outer ring and needle roller and ball set. During fitting it must, however, be ensured that the bearing rings are not interchanged with rings from other bearings, but are always mounted in the delivered matched pair.
Needle roller/angular contact ball bearing NKIA
Fr = radial load
Fa = axial load
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Needle roller/angular contact ball bearing NKIB
Fr = radial load
Fa = axial load
Wide inner ring
Narrow inner ring
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X-life premium quality
The combined needle roller bearings described here are X-life bearings. They are characterised by a very high load carrying capacity and long rating life. This is achieved, for example, through the modified internal construction and optimised contact geometry between the rolling elements and raceways, as well as through the higher quality of the steel and rolling elements, higher surface quality and appropriate heat treatment.
Advantages
Increased customer benefits due to X-life
The technical enhancements offer a range of advantages, such as:
- a more favourable load distribution in the bearing and thus a higher dynamic load carrying capacity of the bearings
- quieter running
- running with reduced friction and greater energy efficiency
- lower heat generation in the bearing
- higher possible speeds
- lower lubricant consumption and, consequently, longer maintenance intervals
- a measurably longer operating life of the bearings
- high operational security
- compact, environmentally-friendly bearing arrangements
Lower operating costs, higher machine availability
In conclusion, these advantages improve the overall cost-efficiency of the bearing position significantly and thus bring about a sustainable increase in the efficiency of the machine and equipment.
Suffix XL
Combined needle roller bearings in X-life quality include the suffix XL in the designation ➤ Figure to ➤ Figure and ➤ link.
X-life indicates a high product performance density and thus a particularly significant benefit to the customer.
Needle roller/axial deep groove ball bearings NX, NX..-Z, NKX, NKX..-Z
Suitable for moderate axial loads
Needle roller/axial deep groove ball bearings support high radial loads and moderate axial loads in one direction ➤ Figure to ➤ Figure. Bearings with a full complement ball set have a higher axial load carrying capacity than bearings with a cage-guided axial component ➤ Figure.
Bearing arrangement for supporting axial loads in both directions
Mounting of two needle roller/axial deep groove ball bearings in a mirror image arrangement
Needle roller/axial deep groove ball bearings can support axial loads in one direction only. If no temperature-induced changes in length occur during operation in an arrangement of short shafts, two bearings can also be used to support axial loads in both directions, which are then mounted in a mirror image arrangement ➤ Figure. The bearing parts should, however, be elastically preloaded in an axial direction, for example by means of disc springs ➤ Figure. The elastic preload ensures that the unloaded axial bearing component runs without slippage ➤ section. The preload also improves the operating behaviour of axial ball bearings and reduces running noise.
Two needle roller/axial deep groove ball bearings NKX mounted in a mirror image arrangement and axially preloaded with disc springs
Needle roller/axial deep groove ball bearing NKX
Disc spring set
Shaft nut for preloading
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Needle roller/axial cylindrical roller bearings NKXR, NKXR..-Z
Suitable for high axial loads
Needle roller/axial cylindrical roller bearings support high radial loads and also, due to the line contact of the cylindrical rollers, high axial loads in one direction ➤ Figure, ➤ Figure and ➤ Figure.
Bearing arrangement for supporting axial loads in both directions
Mounting of two needle roller/axial cylindrical roller bearings in a mirror image arrangement
Needle roller/axial cylindrical roller bearings can support axial loads in one direction only. If no temperature-induced changes in length occur during operation in an arrangement of short shafts, two bearings can also be used to support axial loads in both directions, which are then mounted in a mirror image arrangement. The bearing parts should, however, be elastically preloaded in an axial direction, for example by means of disc springs ➤ Figure. The elastic preload ensures that the unloaded axial bearing component runs without slippage. The preload also improves the operating behaviour of needle roller/axial cylindrical roller bearings and reduces running noise.
Needle roller/angular contact ball bearings NKIA, NKIB
NKIA for axial forces in one direction, NKIB for alternating axial forces
The radial bearing supports high radial forces, the angular contact ball bearing supports smaller axial forces. NKIA can support axial loads from one direction only ➤ Figure. NKIB has one narrow and one wide inner ring ➤ Figure. At the point where the inner rings join, there is a shoulder on both sides for guidance of the ball and cage assembly. As a result, these bearings are also suitable for supporting axial forces alternating in direction, i. e. as locating bearings, they can guide the shaft axially in both directions. The shaft is guided axially with an axial clearance of 0,08 mm to 0,25 mm.
Replacement of inner rings
In standard bearings of series NKIA and NKIB, the inner rings are matched to the enveloping circle tolerance F6 and can be interchanged with each other (mixed use) within the same accuracy class.
When mounting bearings NKIB, both inner ring parts must be located axially clearance-free against each other. The narrow inner ring has a larger bore diameter. This results in an interference fit if a shaft tolerance k6 is used.
Bearing arrangement for supporting axial loads in both directions with bearings NKIA
Mounting of two needle roller/angular contact ball bearings in a mirror image arrangement
Needle roller/angular contact ball bearings NKIA support axial loads in one direction. In order to support axial loads in both directions, two bearings NKIA can also be used, which are then mounted in a mirror image arrangement ➤ Figure.
Two needle roller/angular contact ball bearings NKIA mounted in a mirror image arrangement
Needle roller/angular contact ball bearing NKIA
Shaft nut for preloading
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Support of axial forces
Preloading of the axial bearing component
The axial bearing component must be preloaded to 1% of the axial basic static load rating C0a (for example using disc springs). The basic load ratings C0a are stated in the product tables.
Needle roller/axial deep groove ball bearings and needle roller/ axial cylindrical roller bearings
Shortening of the retaining rings where there is little distance between the shafts
In order to support axial forces, the bearings must be abutted by means of snap rings on the outer ring or a housing shoulder. If there is little distance between the shaft centres, the snap rings should be shortened ➤ Figure. Snap rings WR and SW are available from trade outlets. If the bearings are to support axial forces from alternating directions, two bearings must be fitted opposed to each other. The unloaded bearing must be axially preloaded, for example by means of disc springs ➤ Figure. This allows compensation of thermal expansion.
Bearing arrangement with shortened snap rings
Snap ring
Shortened area
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Shaft raceway designed in accordance with DIN 617
If the surface of the shaft raceway is produced to DIN 617, the basic load ratings Cr in the product tables must be reduced by 15%.
The bearings are not suitable for the compensation of shaft misalignments relative to the housing
Combined needle roller bearings are not suitable for the compensation of angular misalignments. The extent to which a misalignment of the shaft can be tolerated relative to the housing bore is dependent on factors such as the design of the bearing arrangement, the size of the bearing, the operating clearance and the load etc. As a result, no guide value can be specified here for a possible misalignment. If angular misalignments occur, aligning needle roller bearings can, for example, be used in combination with an axial bearing, depending on the application.
In all cases, misalignments cause increased running noise, place increased strain on the cages and have a harmful influence on the operating life of the bearings.
Greasing of the radial bearing component prior to initial operation
In bearings with grease lubrication, the radial bearing component should be greased before initial operation using a grease of similar quality to that used in the axial bearing component.
Determining the relubrication interval
In order to determine the relubrication interval, values must be calculated separately for the axial and radial bearing components and the lower value should be used.
Compatibility with plastic cages
When using bearings with plastic cages, compatibility between the lubricant and the cage material must be ensured if synthetic oils, lubricating greases with a synthetic oil base or lubricants containing a high proportion of EP additives are used.
Needle roller/axial deep groove ball bearings
Type NX, NKX
NX, NKX for oil lubrication, NX..-Z, NKX..-Z for grease lubrication
NX and NKX are intended for oil lubrication, therefore the bearings are not greased. Oil lubrication is carried out via the lubrication holes in the end cap ➤ Figure. If grease lubrication is intended, bearings of type NX..-Z or NXK..-Z should be used. In the case of these bearings, the axial bearing component is greased using a lithium complex soap grease to GA08. The end caps do not have lubrication holes.
Type NKX, NKX..-Z
Type NKX
Type NKX does not have a cap which holds the axial bearing component together ➤ Figure. As a result, these bearings are not self-retaining. They should be used with oil lubrication in preference, as the lubricating grease can only be retained with difficulty in the axial bearing component.
Type NKX..-Z
The bearings have an end cap without lubrication holes and are intended for grease lubrication ➤ section and ➤ Figure. The axial bearing component is greased using a lithium complex soap grease to GA08.
Needle roller/axial cylindrical roller bearings
Type NKXR, NKXR..-Z
Type NKXR
As the bearings do not have an end cap, the lubricating grease can only be retained with difficulty in the axial bearing component ➤ Figure. They should therefore be lubricated using oil in preference.
Type NKXR..-Z
Bearings of this type have an end cap without lubrication holes and are intended for grease lubrication ➤ Figure. The axial bearing component is greased using a lithium complex soap grease to GA08.
Needle roller/angular contact ball bearings
Type NKIA, NKIB
Needle roller/angular contact ball bearings can be lubricated with oil or grease. For lubrication, the outer ring has a lubrication groove and a lubrication hole ➤ Figure and ➤ Figure. If grease lubrication is used, the radial and axial bearing components must be lubricated with the same grease prior to mounting the bearings.
Provide seals in the adjacent construction
Combined needle roller bearings are not sealed. In the case of unsealed bearings, sealing of the bearing position must be carried out in the adjacent construction. This must reliably prevent:
- moisture and contaminants from entering the bearing
- the egress of lubricant from the bearing
Sealing of the bearing position in the adjacent construction – example
Needle roller/axial deep groove ball bearing NX..-Z
Sealing of the bearing with rotary shaft seal G
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Bearings with end cap
End caps without lubrication holes are suitable for grease lubrication
Bearings of design Z have an end cap, which grips the axial bearing component ➤ section and ➤ Figure, ➤ Figure and ➤ Figure. End caps without lubrication holes form a gap seal and retain the lubricating grease in the axial bearing component (applies to types NX..-Z, NKX..‑Z, NKXR..-Z).
Limiting speeds and speed ratings in the product tables
The product tables generally give two speeds for the bearings:
- the kinematic limiting speed nG
- the thermal speed rating nϑr
Limiting speeds
The limiting speed nG is the kinematically permissible speed of a bearing. Even under favourable mounting and operating conditions, this value should not be exceeded without prior consultation with Schaeffler ➤ link. The values in the product tables are valid for oil lubrication.
Values for grease lubrication
For grease lubrication, 60% of the value stated in the product tables is permissible in each case.
Reference speeds
nϑr is used to calculate nϑ
The thermal speed rating nϑr is not an application-oriented speed limit, but is a calculated ancillary value for determining the thermally safe operating speed nϑ ➤ link.
The thermally safe operating speed nϑr for NKXR, NKXR..-Z, NKIA and NKIB is given in the product tables. The speed rating nϑr to DIN ISO 15312:2004 is not defined for bearings NXand NKX and therefore only the limiting speed nG is given.
In order to calculate the thermally safe operating speed nϑ, NKXR(..-Z) must be regarded as axial bearings and NKIA, NKIB as radial bearings.
Schaeffler Noise Index
The Schaeffler Noise Index (SGI) is not yet available for this bearing type ➤ link. The data for these bearing series will be introduced and updated in stages.
Limiting values
The operating temperature of the bearings is limited by:
- the dimensional stability of the bearing rings and rolling elements
- the cage
- the lubricant
Possible operating temperatures of combined needler roller bearings ➤ Table.
Permissible temperature ranges